At dawn the next morning, the bus rolled into Vernon Station. Stepping off, Kayden and Ivy went their separate ways.
As they were about to part, something seemed to strike Ivy. She turned to Kayden, wearing an earnest look. “About what happened last time… I’m sorry. I misunderstood you. I’ve been holding onto this apology for a long time, and now, I can finally say it.”
“It’s nothing,” Kayden shrugged it off as if it had never mattered.
Ivy offered to treat him to a meal, but he politely declined.
Since the moment he got off the bus, a heavy feeling settled over Kayden. Walking through the streets of Vernon, his mind was pulled back a decade, to a time when this city had been his world. This place carried his past, his childhood, and his pain. Ten years had passed since he last set foot here. He had once vowed never to return. Yet, here he was, back to this land again.
But everything had already changed. He was no longer the person he had been. Back then, he had been seen as the disgrace of the Scott family. Everywhere he went, he was met with ridicule from strangers. Even the family’s servants had the nerve to mock him. Now, however, he was a different man, one who carried honor and commanded respect. With a single order, he could conquer this whole city.
As he took in the familiar streets around him, Kayden exhaled deeply. The memories of ten years ago lingered like a thorn in his heart. The wound had never truly healed.
Kayden hailed a cab and headed straight for the John family residence.
The driver was a middle-aged man. He kept stealing glances at Kayden in the rear-view mirror. After a moment, he failed to hold back his curiosity and asked, “Hey, are you on your way to treat the young master of the John family?”
Kayden replied with a nonchalant “yep,” his voice flat and devoid of any emotion.
The driver raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised. Then he chuckled knowingly. “I’d advise you against it, bro. The young master is suffering from a bizarre illness that nobody has even heard of. They’ve consulted countless doctors and visited major hospitals, yet no one has been able to pin down what’s afflicting their son. Some doctors even got punched because they were unable to answer the questions they asked. Believe me, getting this one hundred million is a hard row to hoe.”
Kayden offered no response. His gaze drifted dispassionately to the scenery outside the window. The driver clicked his tongue in frustration, losing interest in the conversation.
Soon, they arrived at the John family’s gate. Their manor nestled on the outskirts of the city, a world away from the bustling urban life. This was the preference of the wealthy. Few of them would choose to live in the heart of the city.
As he stepped out of the car, Kayden’s eyes were drawn to the two potted Rohdea japonica plants. There were also two stone statues in the shape of beasts guarding the gate.
He approached the door, ready to knock, when it creaked open unexpectedly. In the next moment, two burly men in black walked out. A bald man was hauled out by them.
The bald man wore a flowing yellow robe, and his face was covered with bruises and swelling. Obviously, he got a good beating inside.
As they reached the doorway, the two bodyguards wasted no time and roughly hurled the bald man out into the open.
One of the bodyguards in black shouted after the bald man, “You bastard! Don’t know anything about medicine and dare come here pretending to be an expert! Fuck off!”
Then, the bodyguard turned his attention to Kayden and snapped, “And you’re also a doctor here to treat our young master?”
Kayden glanced at the man sprawled on the ground, then met the bodyguard’s gaze. He nodded slightly and replied, “Yes!”
“Come on in!” The burly bodyguard swung the door open, his face twisted in impatience as if telling Kayden that he would face a similar fate like the bald man soon.
Kayden strode inside without sparing a glance at him.
Upon stepping through the threshold, he paused, silently taking in what lay before him!
Before his eyes was a standard quadrangle courtyard, but this was no ordinary courtyard-it was far more vast and imposing than the usual ones. It covered a large area, and the buildings loomed high above. While most houses nearby were modestly low, these structures towered at around ten meters. Though they were only two stories, they appeared far more imposing.
Standing at the entrance, a mere glance forward would send a wave of overwhelming pressure crashing over whomever saw this. This was the first impression it left. And it perfectly showed the John family’s grand stature and formidable influence.
Yet, it wasn’t the grandeur of the architecture that made Kayden pause. What truly caught his attention was the stone statue perched atop the courtyard rooftop. It’s a massive creature with outspread wings, shaped like a bird mid-flight, as if ready to soar across the heavens.
The Vermilion Bird! It’s one of Seclela’s Four Auspicious Beasts. Kayden’s gaze moved across the rooftop, where he spotted statues of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger flanking the sides. So, behind him, it would undoubtedly be the statue of the Black Tortoise guarding the main gate.
They made the Four Auspicious Beasts stationed to protect their home! The head of the John family was truly someone no ordinary.
“Sir!” Suddenly, a woman walked out from the main building and approached in slow and measured steps. She wore a crisp white blouse and blue jeans that hugged her figure. She has a pair of long and well-proportioned legs that most would find captivating. Her seductive beauty and curvaceous body added to her charm. Her hips swayed with every step she took. Just watching her walk could almost be entrancing.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, an age where her allure was potent. Several other women followed behind her, and it suggested she held some standing in the John family.
But Kayden had little interest in the woman, even with her attractive figure; such things held no appeal for him.
He stepped forward and cut straight to the point, “Where’s the patient? Take me to him.”
The woman maintained a professional smile as she said, “Sir, please don’t rush. I’m Lucy, the steward of the John family, responsible for vetting those who wish to examine our young master. May I ask where you studied? What notable achievements have you accomplished? For instance, have you published any books, or who was your tutor?”
Kayden couldn’t help but furrow his brows. “What? Are you questioning me?” he asked, anger creeping into his voice.
The woman still wore that smile. “This is standard procedure for anyone entering. We can’t just let anyone who walks in have access to our young master. We have so many visitors every day, after all, and we have to do this, for our young master’s safety.”
She seemed unaware that Kayden was recommended by Coleman. She probably assumed he was just another fraud trying to get the money. This thought irritated Kayden. Who did she think she was? As the King of Seclela, he couldn’t stand being questioned by a mere steward.
At the thought, Kayden let out a snort. “Call Memphis over!”
Lucy was visibly surprised by his words for a moment. “Sir, perhaps you should answer my questions first,” she insisted.
Kayden locked eyes with her and said word by word, “You do not have the authority to question me.”
She was merely a steward. What right did she have to speak to him in such a manner? The John family had really let him down. In the past, Kayden would have simply turned on his heel and left! But for the sake of discovering Liam’s whereabouts, he was willing to endure this once.
Once. He would give this woman one chance! And only one chance for the John family.
He refused to let his pride be trampled on by anyone, except for Georgia, and there was only one Georgia in the world!